Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-03-25
ROMANCE OF CRIME.
A Gang of Female Horse Thieves
Broken up After q Fight.

! From che Cincinnati Ti,1es-.Star.
AURORA, IND, March 22.-Mr. Brit
ten, of the Indiana Horse Thief Detec-
tive Secret Service Force, spent few
hours in the city yesterday on official
business, and among other matters re-
lated briefly the history of a horsethief
rendezvous just across the border on the
| Illinois side that he had assisted in
breaking up. The place was run by a
woman and her two daughters. In the
rear OF their rude dwelling was a Dense
thicket, covering many acres OF ground.
In this thick copse the animals that were
stolen from time to time were secreted.
The absence OF any men folks aided in
throwing suspicion from the lone women,
and their humble home was never believ-
ed TO be the resort OF some OF the worst
horse thieves in the country, and only
through the confession Of convicted
member Of the gang were the officers made
aware OF the character OF the unexpected
place. When descent was made on the
house the girls were there alone and were
placed under arrest, but one of them sue
ceeded in dtscharging a gun, and soon
thereafter the mother emerged from the
thicket near the house, but on dis
covering the officers she fed hack
into the copse, and although the
officers gave chase she eluded them,
and by firing several shots from her re-
treat checked tnsir continued pursuit.
Determined to capture her. the arresung
party spread out along the edge of the
wooded tract and cautiously essayed 20
penetrate from different directions. Sud-
denly the woman dashed out along a mar
row path on horseback, riding man fash
ion. AS quick as tine men could mount
their animals they followed the fugitive
female, VINO rode as tearlesslV as vet
eran trooper. Failing to catch her, the
officers opened fire upon her, and not
until they had galloped several miles and
wounded her so badly that she fell from
her painting horse, were they able to eject
her capture.
Then as soon as she recovered sufii-
GENTLY from her fall to speak, she swore
at them and offered resistance until hand
cufed and tied to a seat in a wagon. A
revolver with its chambers empty was in
her pocket. Two balls, one in the shout
der, the other in her side, and her fall from
the horse failed to conquer her, and she
was landed in Jail as defiant as an In
dian.
A physician pronounced her injuries
not serious, and she may live to serve out
a good sentence. The animal she was
riding had been stolen from Marion
county, and in the thicket, when investi-
gated, thirteen horses were found
secreted, all of which were believed to
have been stolen, owners having been
found for five or them. Feed was found
stored in the woods, and two buggies
that had been taken to pieces and covered
up.
The appearance of the place indicated
that 1t had probably been used a number
| of years as depot for stolen animals to
be kept until they could be successfully
disposed of, the women taking care OF the
beasts and receiving a share of the pro-
ceeds, as something over $500 was found
in the house, and number of stolen arti-
Giles. This, said the detective, was one of
the best captures we made during the
past year. and broke up gang that beat
the Tom Foster forces for daring out
lawry.